"Steve asked me to pass along that he saw a screening of It today and wanted to let everybody know that they should stop worrying about it as the producers have done a wonderful job with the production."

King doesn't tend to mince his words when he DOESN'T like something - his unhappiness with Stanley Kubrick's The Shining is well documented - so this does seem like a positive endorsement.

On the other hand - Stephen King doesn't like The Shining! What the hell does he know?!

Sin Nombre and True Detective S1 director Cary Fukunaga was originally on board to direct a two-part version of the project, which would separate the young 'losers club' when they first encounter Pennywise the clown, from their grown-up selves returning to Maine years later when the shape-shifting monster turns up again.

Will Poulter was originally signed up to star, but after problems and delays both star and director left the project.

Later, Mama director Andrés Muschietti came on board, turning it into a single feature with Bill Skarsgård signing on to play the demon clown.